Skypath, the proposed controversial clip-ons to Auckland Harbour Bridge for cyclists, remains embroiled in legal challenges and is yet to get NZTA (NZ Transport Authority) approval.

Three residents groups are opposing the plans on the grounds of safety, lack of technical data, and risk to the ratepayer should the scheme go ahead but fail to meet ambitious revenue targets. Meanwhile the cost to the ratepayer has already escalated to a whopping $322,000 for what is supposed to be a private enterprise.

The private developer has managed to pass on the expensive cost of ‘wind load testing’ to Council and therefore the ratepayer after Council granted resource consents for the project to go ahead without satisfying itself on the fundamental question of whether or not the bridge could sustain the anticipated load. If it cannot the project becomes unfeasible.

Auckland Council has spent $321,296 investigating the plan to add bike and walking access to the Harbour Bridge even though the New Zealand Transport Agency has yet to decide whether the idea is technically sound.

Three community groups are taking the council and Woodward Infrastructure - the private company behind the $33 million SkyPath proposal - to the Environment Court to appeal against the resource consent granted eight months ago.

The appellants say there's a lack of technical research in the plans and object to the council's decision to grant consent without a verdict from the NZTA on whether it will approve a "licence to occupy" to let the concept go ahead.

By May 27, the council must also file a "comprehensive report", a document which must include the results of "wind load testing", after the court deemed the testing was needed to establish the feasibility of the proposal.

Herne Bay Residents Association co-chair Christine Cavanagh says her group is not opposed to the SkyPath but fears plans are being undermined by poor process and inadequate research.

"What concerns us is that the applicant [Woodward Infrastructure] and Auckland Council have not done their homework on a range of fundamental issues."For example, there's no adequate evidence yet available to establish that SkyPath can be attached to the Auckland Harbour Bridge without compromising the bridge's safety and function."​NZTA classifies SkyPath's status as an "investigation", and confirmed it is still some way off making a decision on whether to allow it to go ahead.

Around the country there is a growing backlash against the greedy demands of cyclists to have ratepayers pay for their recreational activities. The 4% rates transport levy paid by every Aucklander on top of their rates, taking the rates rise to 9.9%, was largely to fund new cycleways like Skypath. The Transport Levy is here to stay, yet less than 1% of commuters are cyclists.

Despite the expensive price tag there is no economic justification for cycleways. They are draining rates away from essential services and road maintenance in the rural areas of Auckland to pay for Green status symbols for the rich few Generation Zero activists who run Auckland Transport’s planning department.

The “Paint it Back’ Campaign to rid Wellington of the hazardous Island Bay Cycleway is growing into a nationwide movement against the imposition of the demands of the few over the needs of the many, driven by a discredited political philosophy.

All the glossy pictures of Skypath show pedestrians not cyclists. Yet is unlikely any pedestrians will use the path given that cyclists can reach speeds in excess of 70kph on the steep downhill slopes, and the space will be enclosed offering no escape.

Skypath is a rort. It deserves to be thrown out along with the Terrible Ten who voted for the Transport Levy and 10% rates rises.

There were a few things that surprised me about this article.
That "Woodward Infrastrucuture" is now the applicant behind the project? Initially the group fronting the projects was "Auckland Harbour Bridge Pathway" of which Christine Rose (politician), Andrew Smith, Alex Sweny(convicted Fraud), and Bevan Woodward are the trustees?! It's not clear what Woodwards' relationship is within Woodward infrastructure. But he's not a director or shareholder. I'm concerned about Auckland Council's partnership delivery model. 1. Previous history: The two big infrastructure projects delivered in partnership with Council and a charity set up to manage the project- the charities register shows unaudited incomplete accounts and one has been struck off. 2. I think it's weird that we now deliver public infrastrucutre via charity. Is a footpath a charity. A road? 3. I don't like the model where there is a charity linked to a business delivering the same project. There is a recurring pattern of Council projects delivered by charities (trustees staff or elelcted members) and then there is also a linked organisation owned by the trustees of the charity. Is it a case of wanting to have the best of both worlds (charitable tax breaks and private ownership) I'd like to see some robust political debate from councils Audit committee on this new model of delivery.

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Anon

31/3/2016 11:57:51 am

1 more issue: Bevan Woodward appears to be from Warkworth. Christine Rose from Rodney. No where near the sky path. It's more about a philosophy of how others should live.

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Janette Miller

31/3/2016 02:09:57 pm

Horrified to learn Council paying for wind tunnel testing! I believe there are no structural plans so is the council paying for that too? Poor ratepayers. How could the council let this happen?

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Phil Moore

31/3/2016 10:51:33 pm

A question should be asked of the council along the lines of how many times has public funds been used in the past to assist a private enterprise begin a business project? Are the funds a gift or a loan? Usually private enterprises have to fun their own start up costs, such as feasibility studies, wind tunnel testing etc. If the council are going to fund money - how can a company apply? I imagine Team NZ would like to have wind tunnel/Fluid dynamic testing paid for by the Auckland Council and they could argue a successful Americas Cup campaign will bring in more money to Auckland than Skypath.